Variable-frequency network device and variable-frequency network connection establishing method

A variable-frequency network connection establishing method adapted for establishing a connection between a local network device and a remote network device, the variable-frequency network connection establishing method comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of local communications protocols to the remote network device, the plurality of local communications protocols including a local standard communications protocol and a local variable-frequency communications protocol, wherein the local standard communications protocol corresponds to one of a 10 Mbps mode, a 100 Mbps mode, a 1 Gbps mode, and a 10 Gbps mode;
• receiving a remote communications protocol provided by the remote network device;
• generating an indicator signal in accordance with the remote communications protocol and the plurality of local communications protocols;
• and
• operating in one of a standard mode and a variable-frequency mode according to the indicator signal;
• wherein the standard mode is one of a 10 Mbps mode, a 100 Mbps mode, a 1 Gbps mode, and a 10 Gbps mode, and the variable-frequency mode is a mode that excludes a 10 Mbps mode, a 100 Mbps mode, a 1 Gbps mode, and a 10 Gbps mode.

A variable-frequency network device adapted for establishing a connection with a remote network device through a network cable, the variable-frequency network device comprising:

• a physical layer circuit for transmitting packets to the remote network device and receiving packets that are outputted by the remote network device, the physical layer circuit including:
• a communications protocol exchanging circuit for providing at least one local communications protocol to the remote network device in accordance with a priority consideration, wherein:
• when the variable-frequency network device uses increased throughput as the priority consideration, the communications protocol exchanging circuit provides a local standard communications protocol and an overclocking communications protocol to the remote network device, and receives a remote communications protocol provided by the remote network device, wherein a connection rate corresponding to the overclocking communications protocol is greater than the connection rate corresponding to the local standard communications protocol;
• and
• when the variable-frequency network device uses establishing a connection at a standard connection rate as the priority consideration, the communications protocol exchanging circuit only provides the local standard communications protocol to the remote network device, and receives the remote communications protocol provided by the remote network device, wherein the standard connection rate is one of a 10 Mbps mode, a 100 Mbps mode, a 1 Gbps mode and a 10 Gbps mode;
• and
• a connection rate control circuit coupled to the communications protocol exchanging circuit for generating an indicator signal in accordance with the communications protocol provided by the communications protocol exchanging circuit and the remote communications protocol;
• and
• a variable-frequency clock generator coupled to the connection rate control circuit for providing a standard clock to the physical layer circuit when the indicator signal corresponds to a standard mode, thus causing the variable-frequency network device to operate in accordance with the standard clock, and providing an overclocking clock to the physical layer circuit when the indicator signal corresponds to an overclocking mode, thus causing the variable-frequency network device to operate in accordance with the overclocking clock;
• wherein the standard mode is one of a 10 Mbps mode, a 100 Mbps mode, a 1 Gbps mode and a 10 Gbps mode, and the overclocking mode is a mode that excludes a 10 Mbps mode, a 100 Mbps mode, a 1 Gbps mode and a 10 Gbps mode.

A variable-frequency network device adapted for establishing a connection with a remote network device through a network cable, the variable-frequency network device comprising:

• a physical layer circuit for transmitting packets to the remote network device and receiving packets that are outputted by the remote network device, the physical layer circuit including:
• a communications protocol exchanging circuit for providing a local communications protocol to the remote network device in accordance with a priority consideration, wherein
• when the variable-frequency network device uses energy savings or long-distance transmission as the priority consideration, the communications protocol exchanging circuit provides a local standard communications protocol and a downclocking communications protocol to the remote network device, and receives a remote communications protocol provided by the remote network device, wherein a connection rate corresponding to the downclocking communications protocol is less than the connection rate corresponding to the local standard communications protocol, and
• when the variable-frequency network device uses establishing a connection at a standard connection rate as the priority consideration, the communications protocol exchanging circuit only provides the local standard communications protocol to the remote network device, and receives the remote communications protocol provided by the remote network device, wherein the standard connection rate is one of a 10 Mbps mode, a 100 Mbps mode, a 1 Gbps mode and a 10 Gbps mode;
• and
• a connection rate control circuit coupled to the communications protocol exchanging circuit for generating an indicator signal in accordance with the communications protocol provided by the communications protocol exchanging circuit and the remote communications protocol;
• and
• a variable-frequency clock generator coupled to the connection rate control circuit for providing a standard clock to the physical layer circuit when the indicator signal corresponds to a standard mode, thus causing the variable-frequency network device to operate in accordance with the standard clock, and providing a downclocking clock to the physical layer circuit when the indicator signal corresponds to a downclocking mode, thus causing the variable-frequency network device to operate in accordance with the downclocking clock;
• wherein the standard mode is one of a 10 Mbps mode, a 100 Mbps mode, a 1 Gbps mode and a 10 Gbps mode, and the downclocking mode is a mode that excludes a 10 Mbps mode, a 100 Mbps mode, a 1 Gbps mode and a 10 Gbps mode.